2006 Buick LUCERNE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
330 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
50,597 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 264 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 70 of 330 complaints (21.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 56 | 17.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 39 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 37 | 11.2% |
| Engine operation | 17 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 70 |
| Steering | 38 |
| Air Bags | 33 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 25 |
| Structure:Body | 24 |
| Engine | 21 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 20 |
| Structure | 18 |
Electrical System: 70; Steering: 38; Air Bags: 33; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 25; Structure:Body: 24; Engine: 21; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 20; Structure: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 94 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 36 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 49 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 37 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 94; 25,000 to 49,999: 36; 50,000 to 74,999: 49; 75,000 to 99,999: 37; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 12
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (94). 66 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 60 |
| 2007 | 29 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 68 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2006: 60; 2007: 29; 2008: 8; 2009: 10; 2010: 12; 2011: 22; 2012: 17; 2013: 19; 2014: 68; 2015: 26; 2016: 20; 2017: 8; 2018: 7; 2019: 8; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 39 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10159393 · 2006-06-09 (June 9, 2006)
I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN THE CA/NV BORDER AND EAST RENO. IN TWO INSTANCES I ENCOUNTERED PAVEMENT THAT WAS GROOVED (IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ROAD). I WAS INITIALLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MPH. I WAS DRIVING A NEW 2006 BUICK LUCERNE V-8 VIN IG4HE5Y76U157759 WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL 400 TIRES. WHEN I DROVE ON THE GROOVED PAVEMENT, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS WOBBLED SO BADLY THAT IT FORCE THE CAR TO WEAVE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STEADY. THIS HAPPENED IN THE AREA WEST OF RE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10159393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159584 · 2006-06-12 (June 12, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH OR MORE, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO PERFORMED SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS, ROTATED THE TIRES, AND REBUILT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. AFTERWARDS, THE FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,358 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150923 · 2006-02-22 (February 22, 2006)
FAILURE INFO UNKNOWN. THE PANEL INSTRUMENTS ARE NOT VISIBLE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WHILE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS IN THE "AUTO" POSITION. IN "PARK" AND "HEADLIGHT" POSITION THE PANEL LAMPS ARE ON. A VERY SIMPLE WIRING CHANGE CAN CORRECT THIS AND MAKE THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES VISIBLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10150923 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181334 · 2007-02-01 (February 1, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LUCERNE THAT HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED THAT AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE SERVICE. THE DEALER THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE AND THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS INDICATOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO SHOW ON DASHBOARD. *AK UPDATED 2/27/2007 - INTERMITTENTLY THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 11,626 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168237 · 2006-09-14 (September 14, 2006)
1. NORMAL LANE CHANGE FROM CENTER LANE TO RIGHT LANE AT APPROX. 65 MPH, MARYLAND INTERSTATE 95 NORTH MILE MARKER 104.8 2. VEHICLE VEERED SHARPLY RIGHT WITH NO CONTROL OF STEERING RESULTING IN 4 SPINS AND TRAVELING BACKWARDS WITH BRAKES ON POSSIBLY 200 FT. BEFORE STRIKING AN EMBANKMENT RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DURING THIS INCIDENT. 3. IS IN A BODY SHOP WAITING INVESTIGATION AND REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168637 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES VIBRATED GOING DOWNHILL. THE BRAKING WAS NORMAL AT ALL OTHER TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER CHANGED THE ROTORS, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186257 · 2007-03-27 (March 27, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2006 BUICK LUCERNE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND TRYING TO GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STALL, BUT WHEN PUTTING THE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON ,AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD A CURRENT ODOMETER READING OF 9,500 …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191496 · 2007-05-22 (May 22, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLS BUT DOES NOT SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER INSTALLED AN OXYGEN SENSOR IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHOW A CODE. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 12,240 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 660.
Owner-reported narrative. 660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184428 · 2007-03-07 (March 7, 2007)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT CONTINOUSLY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ON 2/15/07 AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,500. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196413 · 2007-07-16 (July 16, 2007)
BOUGHT THE CAR "NEW" ON 7/4/07. ON 7/8/07 THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. TOOK THE CAR TO A BUICK DEALER WHERE THEY FIXED A DEFECTIVE PART. DROVE THE CAR HOME THAT NIGHT AND THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP TODAY. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 11 DAYS AND IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 DAYS AND COUNTING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550201 · 2013-10-28 (October 28, 2013)
2006 BUICK LUCERNE . CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A RUSTED GAS LINE ON VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, HE NOTICED A PETROLEUM ORDER AND NO SIGN OF LEAKING EVIDENCE ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM NOT DRIVE THE CAR, DUE TO A FUEL LEAK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY RUSTED FUEL AND EVAP LINES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10550201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576262 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
WHEN DRIVING AND ACCELERATING, VEHICLE LOOSES POWER. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE SPEED DOES NOT PLAY A PART IN THIS PROBLEM NOR DOES THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WILL LOSS POWER AND HAVE A BIG JERK AND BANG WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF A PARKED POSITION. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE STALL WHEN TURNING ONTO A STREET AND START BACK UP. THIS MORNING IN PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD,THE CAR LOST POWER, BUT REGAINED POWER BEFORE I GOT HIT. THIS IS DANGEROUS. …
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576262 at NHTSA ↗